Job summary
Alliance Psychological
Services is an independent provider of counselling and psychological therapy
services based in the Tees Valley area and working across the North-East
region.
COUNSELLOR
FULL
TIME - 12 MONTH FIXED TERM CONTRACT
SALARY
£27,000-£28,000 PER ANNUM PRO RATA TO HOURS WORKED
Main duties of the job
We are currently recruiting for a Counsellor to join our team.
The Postholder will
provide a range of evidence-based psychological interventions as part of the
Hartlepool Supporting Treatment and Recovery Together (START) team, this is a
partnership between Hartlepool Borough Council and Foundations delivering an
integrated substance misuse treatment service. They will contribute to patient
assessment and treatment within the project providing counselling to support
the wider treatment plans.
The
successful candidate will hold a Diploma
or higher award in counselling or counselling psychology or recognised
training / qualification in a major psychological therapy approach.
Please note this role will be based in our Hartlepool office.
This position may require flexible
hours between 8am until 8pm weekdays.
You must have full
right to work in the UK as we are currently unable to offer working visa
opportunities.
For more information on
this post please contact us via email info@alliancepsychology.com
Closing date for applications: 23rd November 2023
Interview Dates: 30th
November 2023
About us
Alliance offers first rate training and development opportunities,
38 days annual leave pro rata, rising 1 day every 5 years of service (as well
as the option to purchase additional annual leave) EAP health scheme including
costs towards eye tests/glasses, dental treatment, physio treatment, life
insurance and shopping discounts alongside a 3% contributory pension scheme. We
also offer lots of health and wellbeing initiatives for our staff and promote
flexible working for a positive work life balance.
Alliance Psychological Services has organisational responsibility
for safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults within our service, part of
this is to follow safer recruitment of staff for all appointments. It is also a
requirement that all staff understand it is each persons individual
responsibility and are committed to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of
children.
Please note that due to the nature of the duties of these roles,
an enhanced criminal records disclosure will be sought in the event of a
successful application.
Alliance Psychological Services Limited is committed to promoting
equal opportunities in our employment practice and service delivery. We are
signatories to the Mindful Employers Charter. Alliance also has Investors in
People status and is a Living Wage employer.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
To work as a member of the START Team Hartlepool
- To create and maintain effective working relationships within the START team in Hartlepool.
- To offer advice and support to other members of the wider Primary Care Team, including GPs and other Health Professionals, on mental health issues, Adult Social Care, and in relation to appropriate referral pathways for patients with mental health needs.
- To liaise effectively with Secondary Care and voluntary sector organisations and services
- To attend meetings and provide reports as required.
- To assist in the development and promotion of the service
To provide a range of therapeutic interventions
- To provide assessment, including risk assessment, of clients referred for psychological therapy within the Primary Care setting.
- To select and deliver a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions, in collaboration with the client.
- A desirable skill having knowledge of trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and an understanding of Motivational Interviewing Techniques with substance misuse.
- To work within an appropriate time framework,
- To make appropriate onward referrals following assessment for clients requiring other services, including statutory and voluntary agencies
- To maintain clients confidentiality within agreed guidelines
- To work with an appropriate range and number of cases selected with the support of their Clinical Supervisor as suitable for the current stage of clinical skills development.
Safeguarding
- Responsible for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults by promoting the welfare of service users at all times and operating within local policies and procedures.
- Under guidance and support taking appropriate safeguarding action to protect children and vulnerable adults at risk of significant harm.
- Under guidance and supervision to identify and support families in accessing Early Help Services
- To share appropriate information with other agencies regarding the service users wellbeing and progress keeping within the boundaries of Confidentiality and Information sharing protocols.
To provide a professional and ethical service
- To maintain appropriate records including all required assessment and evaluation tools
- To undertake relevant Continuing Professional Development activities both as required for the purposes of continued professional accreditation or registration and as identified through Alliances Professional Development and Appraisal System
- To undertake an appropriate amount of clinical supervision from a qualified Clinical Supervisor within Alliances Supervision Programme
- To operate within agreed Alliances professional guidelines and Codes of Practice
- To ensure a safe and secure working environment for self and others and to act as necessary within Health and Safety and other guidelines.
- To adhere to all service Policies, Procedures and Guidelines
- To promote and value the rights, responsibilities and diversity of people using the Service.
Confidentiality
- In the performance of their duties, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to clients and their care, staff and others. They may also have access to information relating to Alliance as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.
- Information relating to clients, carers, staff, other healthcare workers or Alliances business may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with Alliances policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.
This job description is designed to identify principal responsibilities only. The post holder is required to be flexible in developing the role in accordance with changes in Alliances organisational objectives and priorities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
To work as a member of the START Team Hartlepool
- To create and maintain effective working relationships within the START team in Hartlepool.
- To offer advice and support to other members of the wider Primary Care Team, including GPs and other Health Professionals, on mental health issues, Adult Social Care, and in relation to appropriate referral pathways for patients with mental health needs.
- To liaise effectively with Secondary Care and voluntary sector organisations and services
- To attend meetings and provide reports as required.
- To assist in the development and promotion of the service
To provide a range of therapeutic interventions
- To provide assessment, including risk assessment, of clients referred for psychological therapy within the Primary Care setting.
- To select and deliver a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions, in collaboration with the client.
- A desirable skill having knowledge of trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and an understanding of Motivational Interviewing Techniques with substance misuse.
- To work within an appropriate time framework,
- To make appropriate onward referrals following assessment for clients requiring other services, including statutory and voluntary agencies
- To maintain clients confidentiality within agreed guidelines
- To work with an appropriate range and number of cases selected with the support of their Clinical Supervisor as suitable for the current stage of clinical skills development.
Safeguarding
- Responsible for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults by promoting the welfare of service users at all times and operating within local policies and procedures.
- Under guidance and support taking appropriate safeguarding action to protect children and vulnerable adults at risk of significant harm.
- Under guidance and supervision to identify and support families in accessing Early Help Services
- To share appropriate information with other agencies regarding the service users wellbeing and progress keeping within the boundaries of Confidentiality and Information sharing protocols.
To provide a professional and ethical service
- To maintain appropriate records including all required assessment and evaluation tools
- To undertake relevant Continuing Professional Development activities both as required for the purposes of continued professional accreditation or registration and as identified through Alliances Professional Development and Appraisal System
- To undertake an appropriate amount of clinical supervision from a qualified Clinical Supervisor within Alliances Supervision Programme
- To operate within agreed Alliances professional guidelines and Codes of Practice
- To ensure a safe and secure working environment for self and others and to act as necessary within Health and Safety and other guidelines.
- To adhere to all service Policies, Procedures and Guidelines
- To promote and value the rights, responsibilities and diversity of people using the Service.
Confidentiality
- In the performance of their duties, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to clients and their care, staff and others. They may also have access to information relating to Alliance as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.
- Information relating to clients, carers, staff, other healthcare workers or Alliances business may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with Alliances policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.
This job description is designed to identify principal responsibilities only. The post holder is required to be flexible in developing the role in accordance with changes in Alliances organisational objectives and priorities.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or higher award in counselling or counselling psychology or recognised training / qualification in a major psychological therapy approach
- Membership of or registration with an appropriate professional body
- Evidence using the career framework of training in mental health and experience working in a stepped care service for anxiety and depression.
- Good record of Continuing Professional Development and willingness to continue this.
Desirable
- Accreditation/registration with BACP, BABCP, UKCP, BPS or another recognised professional organisation.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a mental healthcare setting including a minimum of 2 years post qualifying experience
- Ongoing clinical supervision of therapeutic work.
- Up to date knowledge of therapeutic approach to be practised.
- Awareness of a range of therapeutic approaches.
- Ability to meet agreed or specified service targets.
- Ability to manage own caseload and time.
- Demonstrates high standards in written communication.
- Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers.
- Demonstrates an understanding of a range of mild moderate mental health problems including anxiety and depression and the impact of childhood abuse and neglect and how it may present in primary care.
- Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health/benefits and employment systems.
- Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post.
Desirable
- Experience of working in Drug and Alcohol Services
- Experience in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes.
Other Skills and Qualities
Essential
- Skills in assessment, formulation and treatment of a range of psychological presentations
- Skills in developing and implementing focused, time limited treatment plans.
- Computer literate
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Good understanding of issues surrounding clinical risk
- Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients.
- High level of motivation
- Advanced communication skills
- Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships.
- Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
- Ability to be self reflective whilst working with service users and in own personal and professional development and in supervision.
- The ability and skills to act as an advocate for a new service, to engage and foster good professional relationships with all health professionals of the service with the wider health care system.
- Act in ways that support equality and promotes diversity.
Desirable
- Trained in provision of supervision.
- Trained and experienced in groupwork.
- Access to transport to travel to locations throughout the organisation with appropriate business insurance.
- Fluent in languages other than English
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or higher award in counselling or counselling psychology or recognised training / qualification in a major psychological therapy approach
- Membership of or registration with an appropriate professional body
- Evidence using the career framework of training in mental health and experience working in a stepped care service for anxiety and depression.
- Good record of Continuing Professional Development and willingness to continue this.
Desirable
- Accreditation/registration with BACP, BABCP, UKCP, BPS or another recognised professional organisation.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a mental healthcare setting including a minimum of 2 years post qualifying experience
- Ongoing clinical supervision of therapeutic work.
- Up to date knowledge of therapeutic approach to be practised.
- Awareness of a range of therapeutic approaches.
- Ability to meet agreed or specified service targets.
- Ability to manage own caseload and time.
- Demonstrates high standards in written communication.
- Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers.
- Demonstrates an understanding of a range of mild moderate mental health problems including anxiety and depression and the impact of childhood abuse and neglect and how it may present in primary care.
- Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health/benefits and employment systems.
- Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post.
Desirable
- Experience of working in Drug and Alcohol Services
- Experience in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes.
Other Skills and Qualities
Essential
- Skills in assessment, formulation and treatment of a range of psychological presentations
- Skills in developing and implementing focused, time limited treatment plans.
- Computer literate
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Good understanding of issues surrounding clinical risk
- Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients.
- High level of motivation
- Advanced communication skills
- Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships.
- Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
- Ability to be self reflective whilst working with service users and in own personal and professional development and in supervision.
- The ability and skills to act as an advocate for a new service, to engage and foster good professional relationships with all health professionals of the service with the wider health care system.
- Act in ways that support equality and promotes diversity.
Desirable
- Trained in provision of supervision.
- Trained and experienced in groupwork.
- Access to transport to travel to locations throughout the organisation with appropriate business insurance.
- Fluent in languages other than English
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
